I did some early Christmas shopping research and wanted to share what's actually hot this year, based on reviews and what kids are going crazy for. Here's what I'm buying for our kids and some of the cousins' kids. Written for the other dads who hate shopping. Good luck this holiday season.
| Product | Best for | Rough price | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nex Playground Top pick | Getting kids off screens | $$$ | Details ↓ |
| Pop Mart Labubu Figures | The new craze (warning: addictive) | $ | Details ↓ |
| L.O.L. Surprise! | Still going strong | $ | Details ↓ |
| LEGO Sets | You can't go wrong | $$ | Details ↓ |
| Crayola Color Wonder | Mess-free art for little kids | $ | Details ↓ |
| 3Doodler 3D Pen | Older, artsy kids | $$ | Details ↓ |
| Magnetic Building Tiles | Hours of open-ended play | $$ | Details ↓ |
| Connect 4 Frenzy | Family game night | $ | Details ↓ |
Absolutely blowing up right now. It's an active-play system that gets kids off screens and actually moving, uses a camera to track motion, and parents love that it grows with the kids.
The new collectible craze, think Squishmallows-level obsession. Kids are collecting and trading them like crazy. Blind-box format, so half the fun is not knowing which one you'll get.
Still going strong if your kid isn't already deep into these. Same unbox-and-collect appeal that's kept them popular for years.
Timeless, and the reviews are consistently solid. Pick a set for their age and whatever they're into, there's a themed kit for basically everything now.
For the artsy little ones: the ink only shows up on the special paper, so it's mess-free on walls and hands. Gets great parent reviews for exactly that reason.
Super cool for older kids who like making things, it basically lets them draw in 3D. The Start+ version is built for kids with no hot tip.
Trending hard, with tons of options out there. Kids genuinely play with them for hours, which is the whole ballgame with a toy.
The updated version of the classic, everyone bounces their discs into the grid at once, and it's getting rave reviews for family game night.
Prices and availability are accurate as of publication and subject to change. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Product names are for identification only and remain the property of their respective owners.